Scum vs Liverpool match thread

[BigChief]

Oh, and just to defend (me again, sigh) Koncheskey and Poulson. The following had worse games today:

1. Carragher
2. Skrtel
3. Maxi
4. Joe Cole

[SimonNo7]

Well we are looking worse than last season (and it is actually a worse start), we look far worse in defence and we have absolutely no concept of how to control a game anymore, we have moved backwards so far.

I agree about the defence but could this be the transition from zonal to man marking? Is it because we are playing a centre half pairing of Carra and Skrtel? Carra being outjumped / out muscled by Berbatov of all players, is this showing up his decline? As for controlling games fair enough if you are happy to just pass it sideways and backwards which is what we did a hell of a lot of last season with not a great deal going forward coming from it. For me what is far more worrying but then again it has been for quite some time including the whole of last season is the fact that the players do not seem to understand how to be a team, how to create space for each other and how to pass & move.

[CJ]

Would Kenny still really want it?

its an even worse job than we thought in the summer.

Also Kenny would get slaughtered if we didnt improve.

[chadrtc]

Personally I enjoyed the fact we were passing a lot more and hoofing a lot less (yes today was less than what we've done in the past). Was extremely disappointed that Maxi started instead of Babel as it gave a shattered Evra breathing space. Babel would have mullered Evra today even if his end product would have been wayward.

But today was the first time I saw Liverpool football club play without Kuyt, Lucas and Jovanovic in the same side. It was a breath of fresh air and I always knew we had at least two goals in us. Even at 3-2 I could see us snatching a draw but wasn't to be. Its been a long time since I've been this optimistic when we've gone a goal down.

With this team we will steamroller the next five games. Mark My Words (frick, jinxed it now).

I'll have some of what you're on please!

[Leyton388]

The only person who would want to step into the job would be Kenny. But the board didn't want him anyway.

[Galb]

Those who can honestly say that Hodgson needs to be given time should face reality.

It was his decision to remove zonal and employ man for man and have Torres come back to mark Berbatov.

He has chosen poor players in Poulson and Konchesky and is not getting his tactics over to the players or if he is they are naive at best.

So give him more time and we will enjoy a relegation battle, he has had 5 league matches admittedly a tough start but we looked 2nd best in all departments, including passion.

How long do we wait? How much time do you give him?

Poor player motivation, poor team selection, poor and outdated tactics, weird subs, but lets all stick our heads in the sand and support Hodgson anyway coz that is what we do...

yeayyyyyy happyclappers.

c'mon Hodgson, c'mom Hodgson ra ra ra...

The reality is he will be given time because we dont have the money to replace him, no-one would want to the job and he will be given time by the media because he's popular.

For example, I havent heard anything yet about it being our worst start in 18 years. He has a bit of space (which means the club does a bit too).

So for the moment, demanding his head isnt going to get anywhere. And I do believe all managers should be given some time.

But right now I am worried. The squad's being downgraded, mainly by the Yanks (although my own view is also by Roy's signing) and we're looking generally outclassed.

I can honestly say I wouldnt be shocked to see us in the Championship in three years time.

[BigChief]

Personally I enjoyed the fact we were passing a lot more and hoofing a lot less (yes today was less than what we've done in the past). Was extremely disappointed that Maxi started instead of Babel as it gave a shattered Evra breathing space. Babel would have mullered Evra today even if his end product would have been wayward.

But today was the first time I saw Liverpool football club play without Kuyt, Lucas and Jovanovic in the same side. It was a breath of fresh air and I always knew we had at least two goals in us. Even at 3-2 I could see us snatching a draw but wasn't to be. Its been a long time since I've been this optimistic when we've gone a goal down.

With this team we will steamroller the next five games. Mark My Words (frick, jinxed it now). Had it not been for jammy goals and some shocking defending from Carra/Torres we'd not be 3 goals down in the first place.

[Mostar]

He took Meireles off for Jova because the team was unbalanced. At that time you either take a central midfield player off or you take Torres off. That or Put Gerrard at RM.

I think we should probably have taken Torres off, but I guess we wanted a chance to win.

Changing Raul for Jova made no sense. That change actually caused the unbalance and not the other way around.

You don't pull RM and replace him with a striker/winger type of player when you already have 2 strikers..

Roy deserves a credit for bringing Ngog at the right time but he should face criticism for Jova/Raul miss.

[Mattshark]

Based on what? He's been easily one of the best centre halfs in the league in the last few seasons.

Top player.

He has looked decent at Fulham, who are poorer in defence than we are.

[badpiggy]

Well great come back but undone in the end by Berbatov being well on his game. Can't be helped.

On Konchesky, second half he looked tired and strted to get run ragged by Nani, who also had a great game. I highlighted Berba and Nani as United's danger men before kick off and sadly I was proved right.

On a positive note, I think are midfield was very bright at times, we'll demolish less experienced teams than United in the coming weeks. Poulsen put in a great shift second half too.

Meireles played well, but is not a RM. He looked well out of place there.

Existential crisis alert!

[Rudo]

He isn't a good enough player for us.

Based on what? He's been easily one of the best centre halfs in the league in the last few seasons.

Top player.

[BobTheCharmer]

We disagree

Indeed. I love Italian suits although I've never owned one. I also like circa 1850 glass decanters.

[Mattshark]

Fair enough and I respect your opinion. For me I don't overly care how we play. Football isn't entertainment for me, it's quite simply about winning. Now I know we aren't winning enough at the moment but then that hasn't changed for a number of years. Also for me I would much rather us win every game with a deflection off a beach ball than play beautiful football, controlling every game only to not score as many as the opposition. But each to their own and opinions is what makes forums like this worthwhile.

Controlling a game makes a huge difference.

We had been winning up till last season, and even then we looked much better.

[CJ]

the problem is we do look to be going backwards

i have no idea what we should do.

Roy was the best manager we could get so who do we get now?

also dont forget that its a really tough job.

limited resources and huge expectation.

all the crap that is going on around the club and a real possibility that torres and riena could be sold in the next 12 months.

maybe we have to get used to what we are increasingly looking like its happened to other clubs and we are not imune to it.

[ronanm]

Sacking Hodgson at this stage? Eh, yeah